Oct. OTW

[Jimbo]

I had told myself I wasn't going to respond on this one, not because I felt I was one of "the lazy" who only take advantage of an article like this, which admittedly I have not received my copy, thus have not read, but I felt compelled to respond due to some of the posts I've read. I don't know Steve, but I know from what has been written here, I surely would like to meet him someday. Sounds like a knowledgeable, standup kinda guy. He did his job and wrote an article, and obviously from the responses elicited here, he did a very, very good job of it. People here are quick to say "That race of people ALWAYS keep shorts", or "The googans ALL litter and park in the handicapped spots". If we're to accept that statements about a majority or an entire type or race of people are true, then wouldn't you agree those type people I mentioned just before are probably not at all, or of such an insignificant number as would even spend the money on OTW, let alone read the article. I think those spots will probably be fine, if not wholly protected by some who have weighed in here.

[capesams]

their at the town dock in harwich right now if you want to talk to them.

[piemma]

Attached is a copy of an email I sent to the publisher of OTW on my company email letterhead. No reply as of yet.

"Chris:
What the hell were you thinking when you published this article? The Stripe bass internet message boards have been alive today ready to burn your mag and lynch McKenna. Now, I have Issue 1 of OTW. I have always considered your publication to be honest, ethical and above board. This article changes my opinion.

I must assume that you published the article through pure ignorance regarding "Spot Burning". This has been an ongoing debate for months on the boards and your publishing of McKenna's article just lit the fuse. You CANNOT publish an article that names fishing spots and gives directions without expecting the general surf fishing population of that area to be up in arms. I think it irresponsible journalism not to take this into consideration before publishing this type of article.

I make the preceding points only because I do care about OTW and feel you guys should have been more civic/public minded in your article selection.
Comments?"

[choggieman]

Very nice piemma, hope it is effective.
Now if Mr. Mckenna was warned of the repercussions of this article before he wrote it and it was published, does this mean he did so with the intent of burning the spots? If he was aware of the negative feedback that was to come, or at least he was told what may happen if this article were to be printed, did he do so knowlingly to make a point? As I have said, he always had my respect so I gave him the benefit of the doubt til now.

[piemma]

Good questions Choggieman. I have know Steve for quite awhile and I just refuse to believe that there was malicious intent behind him writing the article. I think it was just one of those brain cramps we all have on occasion when we say/write something we later wish we hadn't. I am certain that, given the uproar his article has raised, he wishes he didn't submit it.
I know I have been guilt of writing emails that I never should have. I now re-read every email I write before I send it.

[Nebe]

Steve is the most generous guy out there.. he would give you the shirt off his back if he thought you needed it. HE has never held back when i have asked him questions, even questions that i felt uncomfortable asking, as i knew that maybe only he knew the answer.

That being said, i just believe it is his nature to share.

I love the guy and i hate to see everyone ripping on him, but in the same light i am saddened that he would mention such sensitive spots in a region-wide publication.. I know his article will effect the way i fish this fall and next spring.

[vineyardblues]

I agree with Piemma
If I could only take back some of the things I have said /done/wrote in my life I WOULD GROW WINGS
And would be sitting on the right hand side of the big Guy!

VB

ps. or maybe that would be me, the guy at the gate ! lol

[capecodder]

I waited to jump in on this until I read the article, which I did last night. While I agree with the general sentiment regarding access, and the issues of overcrowding, I fail to see why this article is that different from articles and seminars I have seen in the past. Yet this one has caused such an uproar.

Nearly every issue of OTW has a chart of a lake, stream, piece of coastline that gives up spots with detailed tactics. Last month was an article on tuna fishing the Mud Hole that was quite detailed. Gene Bourque gave a seminar on the Elizabeths at the Mass Bass show with detailed charts, casting spots, anchoring locations and techniques. I remember a Fisherman article on Barnstable Harbor and the Vineyard. None of those created this response...

I've read striper Hot Spots, OTW, the Fisherman, SWS and more for years and never felt the urge to jump in my car and try them out. Instead I read about them and think about how a certain technique applies to my areas, spots, and tactics. Maybe a couple of them applied to me and I got a head start. I can't believe I'm the only one doing that. I have to believe that the vast majority of readers will be the same. A trip to RI/CT is a significant investment in time, even from the South Shore of Boston (me), that I simply can't commit. I'll think about how Steve fishes those spots and what is common to my areas and hopefully learn something.

I agree with an earlier point that if you bump into someone wading 200 yards to a bar at 2am in some remote place, more than likely they are not your run of the mill googan. If it were my spot, I'd much prefer that person to be somewhat educated and not sitting soaking bait preventing me from eeling.

Why is this article so different? Is it better if a bunch of googans discover this spot on their own and soak bait where the sharpies all want to plug? At least now they know the techniques and etiquette. What is it about the surf that has this extra standard applied to it? I don't hear the boat crowd screaming about the boat spots.

[piemma]

I think the reason this article has raised such a stink is because it's not one spot...it's a whole coastline...

[choggieman]

Its amazing what this article has caused, but it goes on every day. I was just visiting another website from connecticut that encourages very specific detailing of spots and how to fish them. Funny thing about it, a lot of reports are on soco. I have fought on that site before to restrict specifics to no avail. It got to the point where an individual posted mapquest directions to the spot in question. But here we are P.O.ed about an article when there is a whole website dedicated to spot burning. There will most likely never be a reprint of this article, but that other site has for years has burned and burned and burned.
As johnr has said, it is our media. The network has the flaws more than just a few individuals. It seems that the media has taken to catering to the generation of "want results right now -without the effort". So, do we blame the media, or do we blame the direction society has gone? I know too many young people that do not want to learn how to do something the correct way, they want to do it the easiest and most instantly gratifying way there is. Instant results with minimal effort. Whats easier than read the curent report and head in?The media has to make sales, so maybe it designs its offerings to fit what the generation I speak of wants, not what we old school fisherman want.

[beachwalker]

Originally Posted by piemma

I think the reason this article has raised such a stink is because it's not one spot...it's a whole coastline...

thats why I am kind of laughing a bit but John was right when he said it could screw up access if a LOAD of fisherman showed up and started being a bunch of jack-offs....

but I guess that is already happening on that coast.....

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by capecodder

What is it about the surf that has this extra standard applied to it? I don't hear the boat crowd screaming about the boat spots.

If you had been within a mile of the shop when news of the BFT hit the papers this year you would have heard me yelling.

The essence of spot burning is when the people who regularly fish it feel in any way that their current fishing has changed due to the burn. That for damn sure happened with the bluefin, I was out there alone for a good 3 weeks till the lid was blown off it.

Time will tell how bad of a burn this is.

[Redsoxticket]

The vast majority of "class B googans" will not know about these spots because they probably do not subcribe to or buy OTW or even read for that matter.

[rickhern]

When I read the first couple posts, I felt most of you were a bit out of line as these were not exactly secret spots. My magazine came the next day and MY favorite spot is listed as Number 1! Dohhh!!!!. I was pi$$ed at first but as far as that particular spot goes, I think Bloocrab has the right concern. It is a big area to fish and I have never seen more than 2 other fisherman out there, usually have the place to myself. If the magazine attracks some diehards that are willing to take the walk and learn some tough water, I will be happy to fish with them. My concern is the parking issue we have been having recently but I honestly don't think the lot will be full this weekend because of the article.

[tattoobob]

I think the postman must be reading my copy because I haven't got mine yet. and while reading this I wonder what is really in print.

[bloocrab]

Originally Posted by rickhern

,,,My concern is the parking issue,,,,

...Parking which is a big part to Access.


Illegal parking ...along with trash, campfires, a bloody/scaly causeway, etc... all add up to one thing . . ... LOSS OF ACCESS. How close it the closest trash barrel? Obviously, it's NEVER close enough for everyone.

No, they won't close it permanently. It will stay open during the summer months during sun-bathing hours, it will only close from sunset to sunrise...they will replace the existing fence with a much higher one and one that extends past the rock-edge not allowing passage at all...but then who needs to go there during the night-time anyway ? The fish are only there from 8am to 5pm... ...

Like someone else stated, there aren't really any secret spots. Someones' fished there before at some point. Whether they've become forgotten or are now on someone's property, they've been fished. Anyone with a brain and map can do ALL this legwork themselves. With computer technology it can almost all be done from home. Aerial images with depths and structure points. You can't track a sandbar as closely but you can get the gist of where to try. It's not rocket science.....finding the better tides/times to fish them is the science, per say.

This thread is too long to search for it, but someone else stated the question, not exactly like this...but this is how I interpreted it..

..."did you find all your spots yourself, or did someone show you a couple?"....

Of course people have shown me spots...and I've come to learn that you can't share all those spots with everyone or sometimes ANYONE. There is an etiquette about fishing when you take it seriously. Like my other post stated, we don't all look at fishing the same way. Some of you will be collecting baseball cards again in a year or so...or perhaps even antique Barbie Dolls perhaps, to each their own....but some of us will still be wading the large boulders that cover our shore lines in search of that last fish. Unfortunately, a couple of seasons (trash-wise,parking, etc..) could seriously impact just one more fishing spot...and I've seen WAY too many spots lost.

QUESTION: By losing just 1 legal parking area, do you realize how many actual fishing spots you lose?

ANSWER: ...take a walk on the beach and start counting each step through the sand.....hop from rock to rock and count each rock.


There are places in Newport that to this day, I will drive by and think to myself.......WOW, I remember when we used to be able to fish this area.... .....hopefully my child will own a boat and won't have to worry about access.....